Chrysanthemum plant named `Empire Spotlight`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Spotlight particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; pink overlaid white floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 67 to 76 mm when fully opened; branching pattern is spreading, with 6 to 8 laterals developing after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings; natural season flower date of August 14 to 27 when planting rooted cuttings on June 17 to 18 in Salinas, Calif., and of Sepember 22 to 30 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 22 in Hightstown, N.J.; plant height of 28 to 33 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically know as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Empire Spotlight.

Empire Spotlight, identified as 9801 (A91-4), was oiginated from a crossmade by Janet S. Fuess in a controlled breeding program in New Hartford,N.Y. in October 1990.

The female parent of Empire Spotlight was an unnamed seedling,identified as F88-2, and described as a purple decorative garden mum.

The male parent of Empire Spotlight was an unnamed seedling, identifiedas F89-6, and described as a pink decorative garden mum.

Empire Spotlight was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by Janet S. Fuess in August of1991 in New Hartford, N.Y.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Empire Spotlight wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in October of 1991 in a controlled environment in NewHartford, N.Y. by Janet S. Fuess.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that unique combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Empire spotlight are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Empire Spotlight has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions, The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown,N.J. Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoorsunder the natural temperature and daylength prevailing during Junethrough October.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Empire Spotlight, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Pink overlaid white floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 67 to 76 mm when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading, with 6 to 8 laterals developing afterpinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings.

6. Natural season flower date of August 14 to 27 when planting rootedcuttings on June 17 to 18 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 22 to 30when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 22 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Plant height of 28 to 33 cm when grown in fall under naturaldaylength with no growth regulators.

8. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characeristics of Empire Spotlight, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Empire Spotlight grown in naturalseason outside conditions in Salinas, Calif.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Empire Spotlight.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Empire spotlight at 3 stages of development(mature, intermediate and immature). In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tapein centimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparision to Empire Spotlight is the cultivar identified as Sophia,disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 9,558. Reference is made to attachedChart A, which compares certain characteristics of Empire Spotlight tothe same characteristics of Sophia.

Similar traits are capitulum form and type, and branching pattern. Theflowering response under natural season fall flowering conditions iscomparable for both cultivars, The ray floret color of Empire Spotlightis pink-overlaid white, while the ray floret color of Sophia isdescribed as light purple. Empire Spotlight has a larger diameter ofcapitulum, and a taller plant height when compared with Sophia.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched garden mum grown outdoors in Salinas,Calif. on Aug. 18, 1995.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Empire Spotlight.

Commmercial.--Flat decorative garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--67 to 76 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Pink-overlaidwhite.

Color (upper surface).--White, overlaid with 70D.

Color (under surface).--White, overlaid with 70D.

Shape.--Longitudinal axis straight, cross section convex, dentate rayfloret tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--4A.

Color (immature.--144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--28 to 33 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with nogrowth regulators.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN                                              UNDER NATURAL SEASON OUTDOOR                                                  CONDITIONS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                             AND IN HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY                                                 CULTIVAR      EMPIRE SPOTLIGHT                                                                              SOPHIA                                          ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                            Pink overlaid   Light purple                                                  white, pink center                                              Capitulum form                                                                              Flat            Flat                                            and type      decorative      decorative                                      Diameter across face                                                                        67 to 76 mm     60 to 75 mm                                     of capitulum                                                                  Branching pattern                                                                           Spreading       Spreading                                       Nat. season flower date:                                                      in Salinas, CA                                                                              Aug 14 to 27    Aug 16 to 22                                    in Hightstown, NJ                                                                           Sep 22 to 30    Sep 20 to 30                                    Plant height: 28 to 33 cm     25 to 28 cm                                     ______________________________________                                    

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named